Platform construction for bowling alleys



United States Patent O 3,417,993 PLATFORM CONSTRUCTION FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Paul Roberge, 281 Ashby Road, Ashburnham, Mass. 01430 Filed Aug. 9, 1966, Ser. No. 571,260 Claims. (Cl. 273-51) This invention relates to a new and improved platform construction upon which the pins of a bowling alley are adapted to be set. While the pins are set in the usual manner, the platform construction is movable in a direction longitudinally of the alley. This motion is of relatively slight extent but it provides for a much better score bein-g produced because of the fact that the motion will aid in the dispersal of the fallen pins and also the agitation thereof so that more pins than otherwise will fall.

The principal object of this invention is to provide greater interest particularly for new bowlers and Yby providing for better scores than would otherwise be the case, such interest is insured.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter. i

'Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in longitudinal section illustrating the invention, and

FIG. 2 is a view on an enlarged scale illustrating the double hinge construction.

As an illustration of the invention, the reference numeral indicates any kind of a support which is at the pin end of the alley. The surface of the alley upon which the balls roll is indicated at 12, and this has a cut away portion at 14 in which the new platform 16 is provided. The new platform has a thickness such that it has an upper surface substantially coplanar with the surface 12 and preferably has an inclined forward edge portion 18 preventing any interference of the operation of the device.

A series of fixed rods or the like 20, 20 are provided extending across the alley and these are received in slots 22, 22 in the platform limiting the fore-and-aft motion thereof as for instance in the direction of the arrow in FIG. l.

At the rear end portion 24 of the platform it is connected by a hinge which is generally indicated at 26 to a hinge member 28, the latter being hinged in turn at 30 to a support or the like 32 or in fact directly to the support 10 at the rear edge portion thereof.

When a ball hits pins mounted on platform 16, the impact, principally through friction, causes the platform 16 to move towards the rear and this motion causes more pins to fall down and greater agitation and dispersion of the pins that are hit, thus resulting in a much higher score than -would otherwise be the case.

In order to provide that the platform 16 shall move rectilinearly, there is provided a double hinge which is best shown in FIG. 2. This hinge comprises a plate 34 mounted at the inside aspect of the hinge member 28 as by fasteners 36. It has another member at 38 which is fastened rby a fastener 40 to the under side of the floor 16. However it is provided with a second hinge pintle 42 which connects the fixed member 38 of the hinge to a member 44 which is not fastened anywhere except between the hinge pintles at 26 and 42. Thus as the platform 16 moves to the rear, this double hinge rbreaks in such a way as to allow the relatively short motion of the plat- Patented Dec. 24, 1968 ICC form to remain in a completely horizontal or coplanar relationship.

There may also be provided springs such as at 46 rigidly mounted on a leaf spring holder 48 and extending through eye guides 50, these spring or springs normally tending to bring the hinge member 28 back into contacting relationship with respect to the support 10 or to the memlber 32 upon which it is hingedly mounted. If desired, a locking or latching magnet 52 can be provided to cause the platform to be yieldingly latched in position with the platform forward, ibut capable of releasing under the impact mentioned above.

A continuous hinge 26 may be used, or this hinge may be divided into spaced elements. A single spring at 46 may be used or this spring may be multiplied across the width of the alley and the platform as may be found desirable.

Another advantage of this invention is that when a bowler delivers the ball in the usual strike pocket, the result will surely be a strike because the margin of error on the bowlers part is greatly reduced by the reaction of the platform, due to the greater amount of friction imposed upon the platform. Therefore by using this platform it is possible for a skillful bowler to obtain a series of strikes, depending upon his skill. Strikes obtained on the conventional alley are based to a large degree upon luck.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. A platform construction for pins in a bowling alley comprising a support, a movable platform thereon for reception of the pins in upright, predetermined relation thereon, yielding means normally holding the platform in a normal forward position on the support but allowing said platform to move towards the rear of the alley, away from the bowler, under impact of a bowling ball on the pins, said yielding means tending to return the platform to normal position on the support subsequent to the impact.

2. The platform construction of claim 1 wherein said yielding holding means includes a hinge member at the rear edge portion of the platform.

3. The platform construction of claim 1 wherein said yielding holding means includes a hinge member at the rear edge portion of the platform, said hinge member being substantially vertical and including a hinge at its lower end and a hinge at its upper end, the upper hinge being connected to the platform and the lower hinge to the support at a point below the upper hinge.

4. The platform construction of claim 3 wherein the upper hinge includes a pair of spaced pintles forming a double hinge.

5. The platform construction of claim 1 wherein said yielding holding means includes a hinge member at the rear edge portion of the platform, and a double hinge between the hinge member and the platform providing for a coplanar motion of the platform in a forward and rearward direction.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PLATFORM CONSTRUCTION FOR PINS IN A BOWLING ALLEY COMPRISING A SUPPORT, A MOVABLE PLATFORM THEREON FOR RECEPTION OF THE PINS IN UPRIGHT, PREDETERMINED RELATION THEREON, YIELDING MEANS NORMALLY HOLDING THE PLATFORM IN A NORMAL FORWARD POSITION ON THE SUPPORT BUT ALLOWING SAID PLATFORM TO MOVE TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE ALLEY, AWAY FROM THE BOWLER, UNDER IMPACT OF A BOWLING BALL ON THE PINS, SAID YIELDING MEANS TENDING TO RETURN THE PLATFORM TO NORMAL POSITION ON THE SUPPORT SUBSEQUENT TO THE IMPACT. 